Association between self-reported health and physical and/or sexual abuse experienced before age 18

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the association between women's health and physical and sexual abuse suffered before age 18. METHODS: A total of 3,568 randomly sampled insured women ages 18-64 completed a telephone interview to assess history of physical only, sexual only, or both physical and sexual abuse before age 18 (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System); and current health (Short Form-36, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression, Presence of Symptoms surveys). Adjusted analyses compared the health of women with physical abuse only, sexual abuse only, or physical and sexual abuse to the health of women without these abuse histories. RESULTS: Poorest health status was observed in women with a history of both physical and sexual child abuse compared to women without these abuse histories. In models that adjusted for age and income, women with both abuse types had increased prevalence of depression (prevalence ratio, 2.16), severe depression (PR, 2.84), physical symptoms (PR range, 1.33 for joint pain to 2.78 for nausea/vomiting), fair/poor health (PR, 1.84), and lower SF-36 scores (3.15-5.40 points lower). Women with physical abuse only or sexual abuse only also had higher prevalence of symptoms and lower SF-36 scores but the associations were not as strong. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the literature showing a graded association between multiple adverse events in childhood and adult health.     

Substituting SAT II: Subject Tests for SAT I: Reasoning Tests: Impact on Admitted Class Composition and Quality

Using data from a sample of 10 colleges at which most students had taken both SAT I: Reasoning tests and SAT II: Subject tests, we simulated the effects of making selection decisions using SAT II scores in place of SAT I scores. Specifically, we treated the students in each college as forming the applicant pool for a more select college, and then selected the top two thirds (and top one third) of the students using high school grade point average combined with either SAT I scores or the average of SAT II scores. Success rates, in terms of first-year grade point averages, were virtually identical for students selected by the different models. The percentage of African American, Asian American, and White students selected varied only slightly across models. Appreciably more Mexican American and Other Latino students were selected with the model that used SAT II scores in place of SAT I scores because these students submitted subject test scores for the Spanish test on which they had high scores.     

An exploration of teacher's use of iPads for students with learning support needs

This project explored how iPads were being used in a range of K‐12 schools to support the learning of students with a range of learning support needs. Groups of teachers (and other professionals) from the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK were invited to complete an online survey focused on the use of iPads in their classrooms, perspectives of their skill level, and how their school and school districts support the use of iPads. The survey focused on iPad use in classrooms (curriculum and skills); teachers’ skill levels; whether iPads are addressed in the Individualised Education Program (IEP); the systemic support for the iPads; and the perceived benefits and barriers. The results reveal that respondents are using iPads across many areas of the curriculum, which affirms the research in the emerging literature base. However, there are teacher reported differences in the manner and scope of iPad use in the classrooms and also the integration of the iPad in the IEP. The research also highlights variability in reported skill level for the iPad and an increased need for enhanced systemic support, such as training, funding, technical support and administrative support for the use of the iPad as a pedagogical tool.     

Suicide intervention: Training,roles, and knowledge of school psychologists

Practitioner‐members of the National Association of School Psychologists (N = 162) completed questionnaires regarding their suicide prevention and postvention roles, training, preparedness, and knowledge. Most were crisis team members, yet less than one‐half reported graduate training in suicide risk assessment and less than one‐fourth in postvention. Compared to nondoctoral‐level practitioners, doctoral‐trained practitioners felt better prepared to handle suicidal students. Most respondents had participated in a suicide risk assessment in the past 2 years, with few using standardized measures. Performance was moderately strong on questions about knowledge of risk factors, warning signs, and appropriate steps to respond to a suicidal student, but respondents showed less familiarity with postvention recommendations intended to discourage contagion. Training suggestions were identified. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 157–170, 2007.     

Positive and negative successive contrast effects following multiple shifts in reward magnitude under high drive and immediate reinforcement

Multiple shifts in reward amount were given to rats in a straight runway. Both positive and negative contrast effects were observed. A positive contrast effect was observed, however, only if the shift from small to large reward occurred while the subject was evidencing a negative contrast effect. Implications for current conceptions of reinforcement contrast are discussed.     

Survival responses to incest: Adolescents in crisis

Twenty-seven incest victims, aged 12-18, responded to their experiences with self-destructive behaviors such as substance abuse, suicide attempts, perfectionism, isolation, or depression in attempts to alleviate stress or assert some control over helplessness created by the incest. Therapy focused on the premise that such adolescent behaviors are logical and predictable survival responses rather than simply clues to sexual abuse. Treatment goals included establishing trust, helping the victim re-define his or her role in the incest, view destructive behaviors as predictable responses, and understand that present behaviors are a continuation of these past survival responses. Such self-awareness encourages the adolescent to better manage or discontinue now inappropriate behaviors.